First Nations Journal

I, _______, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; ………..

We took the oath and honorably and proudly served the country that we love. Our love of country dates to our original ownership of lands that became America.  Love of original homelands caused conflict with foreign invaders and resulted in Indian treaties between the Indian nations and the United States.  The Indian treaties are the law of the land and to be forever honored.   

Our Native American veterans answer the call greater in per capita than any other population group in America. Many Native American veterans as my uncle did, served in the U S military during WW1 prior to becoming U S citizens.  It wasn’t until the enactment of the 1924 Indian Citizenship Act that Indian became U S Citizens.  Even though Indians were not required to register for the military draft due to their status, approximately 12,000 Native Americans still served in the U S military during WW1. 

There are several Native Americans who have received the congressional Medal of Honor for bravery beyond and above the call of duty.  Of the many honored American Indians who received the Medal of Honor were the original 29 Navajo Code Talkers who served in WW11.  On July 26, 2001, President George W. Bush awarded the Medal of Honor to the Navajo Code Talkers in a ceremony at the White House.  It is noted that the Navajo Code Talkers were not the first to employ Native language in military service as the Choctaw Indian veterans used their language in military actions in WW1 against the Germans.  In 2008, the Code Talkers Recognition Act was signed into law honoring other tribes with gold medals and providing silver medals to individual code talkers or their families.    

The Navajo Code Talkers were treated with the utmost respect by their fellow marines.  Major Howard Connor, who was the signal officer of the Navajo at Iwo Jima said, “Were it not for the Navajos, the Marines would never have taken Iwo Jima”.  Today, our Indian languages, History and culture face erasure by the federal government at Haskell and public schools.  The proposed Haskell Indian Nations University Improvement Act Findings state there is a need for a culturally relevant education for Indians, the historical context behind the formulation and evolution of Haskell.  The Congress in the enactment of the HINU Improvement Act can uphold the constitution our Indian veterans swore to defend.     

To be sure, the Indian children employed their Indigenous languages to survive in the genocide assimilation of the Indian boarding schools.  The Indian students’ struggle to survive and resiliency will be researched upon enactment of the proposed Indian Boarding School Policies Act (S.761).  The odds are not in our favor.  Resilient, we prevail.    

Research of the Indian boarding schools will document the resiliency and power of self-determination.  It is ironic, the honored Indian code talkers employed their native languages that Indian children were severely punished for speaking their language in the Indian Boarding schools.  Later Native American military code talkers were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for their coded language skills in saving lives on the battlefield.  Today, History repeats the Indian boarding assimilation practice as the federal government is erasing Native languages, history and culture in the nation’s schools.  Genuine Indian Self-Determination cannot be achieved without knowing our languages, history and culture.      

The legendary Haskell football teams and players Jim Thorpe, John Levi and others played in the famous Haskell stadium, a leading stadium facility in the nation.  The legendary Haskell stadium is crowned by the magnificent Haskell Arch created in honor of “Haskell Warriors” who served in WW1.  The U S flag flies majestically over the Haskell Arch and the Haskell campus.  One day we may see the Haskell colors flying in unison with the U S flag over the Haskell Arch. 

Two sisters, Agnes Quapaw-Hoffman and Alice Beaver-Hallam members of the Quapaw Nation and alumnae of Haskell funded the Haskell Arch.  The Haskell Arch crowns the iconic Haskell stadium which was built from large fund-raising drive among American Indians across the nation.   

The First Nations Journal and blogs feature the Haskell Arch as backdrop to highlight the treaty and trust responsibility promised at Haskell.   Grandfather Sun rising sun over the Haskell Arch is a new day, promising hope and the power of the Creator. 

Happy Veterans Day November 11, 2025. 

M’gwitch, 🪶

Steve Cadue, USAF

Kickapoo Nation Kansas